Stay Safe This Halloween With These Simple Tips

Simple Halloween Safety Tips for Parents and Children

Just this one night in the year where spookiness and creepy costumes are considered normal and safe, it's Halloween! But over the years, the scary-yet-funny Halloween image has been smudged by reports of kidnappings, murders and other dangerous crimes being committed on children in many parts of America.

Keeping safe on Halloween isn’t rocket science, but it does require joint effort from both children and their parents. With increasing crime cases and growing cyber insecurity, it’s no longer a simple fun day out. That’s why we curated for you and your children a series of guiding tips you can use to keep safe on Halloween.

Halloween Tips for Parents of Trick-or-Treaters

Send children out in groups. If it’s one young child, let them wait for their friends to pick them up so they can walk together. It’s easier for kids to stray off the road and get into trouble when on their own. If there are no other kids immediately available to help, consider sending your kid out with an older child to monitor them instead.

Check the weather forecast beforehand to determine if the costumes are appropriate. A costume is only as good as the weather, especially when it comes to rainy days and cold nights. Know how wet or dry it will be and ensure that your child steps out with appropriate clothing.

Don’t let them stay out too late. The best way to ensure this is by setting a come-back time for each child. They will always be tempted to stay out at a friend’s party, but for the sake of safety, tell them to make it home by a particular hour.

Make costumes very visible. The go to colour for Halloween has always been black, with the exception of a few bright colours used for specific costumes. If your child is doing black this year, attach a bright coloured cloth piece on their costumes for easy identification.

Drive slowly through your neighbourhood. Since it's Halloween night, the roads in your neighbourhood may be more filled up with kids than usual. Keep your foot on the brakes to minimize accidents and injuries.

Pack simple first aid for accidents such as bandages. With all the craziness that goes on during Halloween night, an accident is highly possible. Make it easy for your child to get first aid by equipping them with simple parts of first aid kits such as Band Aids etc. You might also consider equipping kids with torches or flashlights for the darker corners they may have to use.

Ensure that the costume is safe and comfortable. A safe costume is one that’s long enough without causing trips, pointy without piercing, and sharp without cutting. It should also allow the child to see properly. If it’s not comfortable for the child, change the costume.

Rehearse the road crossing routine with the younger kids before they leave. It’s important that they remember it before they go. You must also remind them of basic road safety use and manners such as walking by the sidewalks, texting without walking and more.

Dear Trick-or-Treaters,

Don’t accept lifts from strangers even if they ask nicely or it’s an emergency.

Avoid dark corners and streets especially if you don’t know them well. If you must use them, go with a friend or two.

Take a phone with you for communication. Calling your parents or friends is the easiest way to make contact if you need help.

Don’t enter any house with or without invitation. The only exception is for relatives or friends you know.

Take candy home for inspection before eating to avoid poisoning. Let your parents inspect it first.

Halloween and Pets

Pets are part of the family. This repeatedly needs to be said, if you have black cats, please keep them indoors. Over the past few years, there has been a trend where several black cats have gone missing around Halloween. Do not give your pets candy.

At the end of the day, your pets' and your kids’ safety depends on the effort you put into reminding them of simple important restrictions and keeping them yourself. With the tips above, Halloween shouldn’t be a cause for worry for you.